Page 16 of It's Just You

“Too afraid of messing up your perfect makeup by sweating?” he teased.

Perfect as in good-looking, or was he ridiculing me for it? “Too afraid of still looking perfect when we arrive at our destination and making the others green with envy at my flawless appearance.”

Kane laughed. “In your dreams, pretty boy.”

“I’d take that as a challenge, but me and outdoors don’t mix well,” I informed him loftily.

“You’re outside now.” He smirked.

“Oh, fuck you.” I swatted at his arm, all too aware of the feeling of his muscled skin beneath my hand. “You know what I mean. Or are you trying to challenge me?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” he deadpanned. While he kept a straight face, his eyes gave him away even in the relative darkness. I realized I was seeing him relaxed for the first time, and it was a nice thing to see. Maybe that was why he was letting down his guard and joking with me.

Or was he actually flirting back, in his own awkward way? I wasn’t exactly acing Flirting 101 right now either. I wished I could read him better — or at all. Usually, a remark like that would’ve prompted some sort of reaction. But with him? Nothing.

I finally moved out of his path, and we walked in silence. I didn’t have any idea what to say. Keep flirting? Let off entirely? He hadn’t told me off, but… Did I have a chance?

I really didn’t know.

But I did know that I enjoyed hanging out with him, for all the mixed signals he sent. He was nice, easy to be around. And even though I’d only ever thought about Kane like some potential vacation entertainment, I found myself wanting to get to know him. I wanted to know why he’d seemed so sad earlier.

No, not sad… but like he was carrying a heavy weight.

I shoved the thoughts to the back of my mind. He wouldn’t need me for that. But I could spend more time with him, get to know him. Couldn’t I?

Apart from Sam, I didn’t have anyone to hang out with for the next few months. Kane seemed like he would be worth getting to know, even if that might make things a little awkward with Sam.

Then again, Sam would probably be enjoying himself with every girl who took a second look at him.

“If I can’t convince you to go hiking, what else do you do for fun?”

Fucking.It was on the tip of my tongue, but for once, I stopped myself. “I… Uh, I do a lot of things. Doing make-up, shopping, blogging—”

Did I always sound so shallow?

“Blogging?” he interrupted me.

I nodded. I usually kept quiet about that one, but with him, I just blurted it out. “Yeah, about… make-up.” I chuckled. “Pretty much predictable, right?”

“I wouldn’t have expected that, to be honest. Are you on YouTube? I’ll check you out.”

My face reddened, even though I’d done quite a few videos already and I had a decent number of followers. Somehow, I didn’t mind strangers seeing them, but it felt awkward as fuck if someone who knew me watched them. “I’ll… Give me your number. I’ll send you the link.”

Sneaky, that was me. At least I’d have accomplished one thing during the night.

“Sure.” Kane handed me his phone, and I added my number. When I handed it back, he took at it, scanned the display, then called my phone so I’d have his number as well.

“Thanks.” I smiled at him, even though it was so dark by then that he probably couldn’t even really see it. We’d wandered so far away from the crowd and the bonfire that we were completely alone and bathed in darkness. With anyone else, I’d be deep inside him by then, but with Kane…

He threw me, but I wasn’t stupid enough to think he’d be up for a quick fuck in the woods.

I could barely make it out, but I thought Kane smiled back.

After a moment of hesitation, we silently walked on. I didn’t feel the need to talk, and Kane apparently didn’t either. It was… nice. Relaxing. Like a friendship forming. It was strange, since I didn’t really know him, but I couldn’t change what was happening. I didn’t think I wanted to, either.

I saw a fallen tree a few feet over and sat down, balancing my cup on the bark beside me. Kane sank down next to me, stretching out his legs.

This was… I’d never done something quite like this before, but I definitely should have. Because this was something I wouldn’t mind doing again.

And, I realized as my heart raced, it was perfect.

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